Roma, a young, energetic teenager, has been feeling low and withdrawn ever since her parents broke the news of their separation. She has been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, angry, sad, lost — all at the same time. Roma’s parents have noticed the changes within her too. They too are going through turmoil in their personal lives, and Roma’s behavior has made them worried. Her open-minded parents have decided to go for an online consultation for depression, but they are unsure how to find a therapist.
Why do you need to find the right therapist?
If you do a quick Google search, you can find numerous holistic counseling services near you. But how do you know who would be the right fit? It is essential to find a good fit because even if a therapist has all the skills, you need to feel connected to that person. Your therapies would work best only when you and your therapist trust each other. Remember, you need to share your innermost thoughts with your therapist, and if you are unable to build the “therapeutic alliance” with your therapist, the therapy won’t be completely effective.
4 tips for finding the right therapist
If you’re considering taking the help of a therapist to overcome your mental health crisis, you’re already moving in the right direction. However, finding a therapist may seem to be a hurdle. So, here are a few tried and tested tips that will help you find the right therapist.
1. Ask someone you trust
Ask your friend, family, doctor, colleagues, or someone you trust for referring you to a therapist. It is an excellent place to start your search.
2. Reach out to organizations that deal with mental health
There are many organizations, including nonprofits, who work actively in the area of mental health. You can reach out to such organizations for help. There are a few startups that work as an aggregator for therapists. Reaching out to them is also a good idea because they can assess your problem and refer you to the right therapist.
3. Look for the qualifications
Check if your counselor has a formal degree and relevant experience in the same field. In India, the minimum degree needed to become a therapist is a Master’s degree. Also, check for the university details. Usually, good universities produce good therapists.
4. Trust your intuitions
Once you gather the information and shortlist your therapist, schedule an appointment and see how it goes. Listen to your gut because you need to be comfortable with your therapist. Observe yourself after your first appointment. How did you find talking to your therapist? Was it easy, or did you feel judged? Remember, it takes a long time to see significant benefits from therapy sessions. But, if you don’t feel comfortable after the first few meetings, perhaps you are not seeing the right therapist.
Know that there is no universally perfect therapist, so find a therapist who is a good fit for you. You know a therapist is a good fit when you see them non-judgemental, who doesn’t reveal intimate details to anyone else, listens to you carefully, is empathetic towards your feelings, and you find comfortable talking to them without any hesitation, guilt, or fear.